Anderson ready to move on from Donaldson situation

CHICAGO -- Prior to the White Sox series opener against Boston on Tuesday, Tim Anderson spoke briefly about this past weekend’s situation involving Josh Donaldson at Yankee Stadium.

Donaldson twice called Anderson “Jackie” during Saturday’s game, a fact Donaldson did not dispute. On Monday, Major League Baseball handed Donaldson a one-game suspension for the remark, which Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, described as “disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions.”

Donaldson, who is currently on the COVID-19 injured list, is appealing the suspension.

While Anderson on Tuesday briefly addressed what transpired over the weekend, he simply seemed ready to get back to baseball.

“I'm going to continue to keep playing hard and keep being a great teammate,” Anderson said. “Keep being the best version of myself I can be.”

“If you’re looking for the latest example of how special he is, just look at that,” added White Sox manager Tony La Russa. “If that’s the first time you’ve been able to see how special he is then you haven’t been paying attention.”

Donaldson claimed that calling Anderson “Jackie” was in reference to a 2019 Sports Illustrated interview in which Anderson, who is Black, said that he feels like “today’s Jackie Robinson.”

In that article, Anderson articulated that he was trying to help break what he called baseball’s “have-fun barrier."

“I kind of feel like today’s Jackie Robinson,” Anderson told Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein. “That’s huge to say. But it’s cool, man, because he changed the game, and I feel like I’m getting to a point where I need to change the game.”

Anderson confirmed that Donaldson had referred to him by that name in 2019, which Donaldson also acknowledged. But according to Anderson, there is no friendship between the two and no inside joke.

“In 2019, I know he did. He did say that. I told him that, you know, we don't ever have to talk again,” Anderson said. “I won't speak to you. You won't speak to me if that's how you're going to refer to me. And I know he knew exactly what he was doing because I already told him.

“He goes to Minnesota, you know, two, three years, [doesn’t] say [anything] to me because I already addressed it. And you know, we get into it with me sliding back, so I push him off me. So what? And he felt the need to you know, say it again, but you know, he's trying to provoke me. And he knew what he was doing.”

Sunday’s crowd at Yankee Stadium also let Anderson hear it with boos. Some also chanted “Jackie,” which Anderson admitted to hearing. So, how did he respond?

He knocked out three hits during a 5-0 victory in Game 2 of the doubleheader, including a three-run home run to complete a five-run eighth.

“It was pretty dope, you know. For me to shut 'em up,” Anderson said. “I think you guys saw the reaction and what I said. And it was a great moment for sure.”

“That was the best response you could possibly have,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “It was awesome.”

Neither Donaldson nor anyone else from the Yankees have reached out to Anderson, per the White Sox shortstop. He’s also not worried about public debate over the situation.

“Nobody else's opinion really mattered, you know,” Anderson said. “It was all about how I felt and how I handled the situation. I don't think it was really about anybody else during that time.”